This book summarizes the qualitative theory of differential equations with or without delays, collecting recent oscillation studies important to applications and further developments in mathematics, physics, engineering, and biology. The authors address oscillatory and nonoscillatory properties of first-order delay and neutral delay differential equations, second-order delay and ordinary differential equations, higher-order delay differential equations, and systems of nonlinear differential equations. The final chapter explores key aspects of the oscillation of dynamic equations on time scales-a new and innovative theory that accomodates differential and difference equations simultaneously.

This book provides a thorough overview of the evolution of privacy-preserving machine learning schemes over the last ten years, after discussing the importance of privacy-preserving techniques. In response to the diversity of Internet services, data services based on machine learning are now available for various applications, including risk assessment and image recognition. In light of open access to datasets and not fully trusted environments, machine learning-based applications face enormous security and privacy risks. In turn, it presents studies conducted to address privacy issues and a series of proposed solutions for ensuring privacy protection in machine learning tasks involving multiple parties. In closing, the book reviews state-of-the-art privacy-preserving techniques and examines the security threats they face.

Including contributions spanning a variety of theoretical and applied topics in econometrics, this volume of Advances in Econometrics is published in honour of Cheng Hsiao. In the first few chapters of this book, new theoretical panel and time series results are presented, exploring JIVE estimators, HAC, HAR and various sandwich estimators, as well as asymptotic distributions for using information criteria to distinguish between the unit root model and explosive models. Other chapters address topics such as structural breaks or growth empirics; auction models; and semiparametric methods testing for common vs. individual trends. Three chapters provide novel empirical approaches to applied problems, such as estimating the impact of survey mode on responses, or investigating how cross-sectional and spatial dependence of mortgages varies by default rates and geography. In the final chapters, Cheng Hsiao offers a forward-focused discussion of the role of big data in economics. For any researcher of econometrics, this is an unmissable volume of the most current and engaging research in the field.

An Approach to Modelling Software Evolution Processes describes formal software processes that effectively support software evolution. The importance and popularity of software evolution increase as more and more successful software systems become legacy systems. For one thing, software evolution has become an important characteristic in the software life cycle; for another, software processes play an important role in increasing efficiency and quality of software evolution. Therefore, the software evolution process, the inter-discipline of software process and software evolution, becomes a key area in software engineering.

The book is intended for software engineers and researchers in computer science.

Prof. Tong Li earned his Ph.D. in Software Engineering at De Montfort University, U.K.; he has published five monographs and over one hundred papers.

Sam, Amy and Allen are three kids who happen to come across three dinosaur eggs. Little do they know the adventure that awaits them is gigantic in proportion. Sam and his friends are very distinct characters whose fates entwine one afternoon when they first meet. They will partake in one of the most amazing journeys of their lives... a trip to the land of giants who roamed the earth. When the children unknowingly follow their dinosaurs through a portal, they find themselves surrounded by a spectacle that could only be imagined. They will have to make a difficult choice, to leave their beloved dinosaurs in their natural home, or bring them back to the only world they know. Join these three children and their dinosaurs in a tale like no other. Experience how these three friends who share a common situation stick together through thick and thin in "Earth's Last Two Dinosaur Eggs," the first story in "Tales of Titans." Following the first story are three more dinosaur stories filled with adventure, excitement, surprises and real life emotions. Our very young and talented author and artist Candace Tong-Li leads her readers into the final era of the dinosaurs' rule, when bipedal dinosaurs have become faster and stronger. They are, in two words, Cretaceous Theropods. These three short stories follow young Tyrannosaurus, Carnotaurus, and an Oviraptor on their journeys of surviving and thriving in their prehistoric world. If you are fascinated with dinosaurs and natural history, you will love this book. This is one of the few dinosaur picture books out on the market that tell stories both children and adults/parents can relate to at different levels. Candace Tong-Li's deceptively simple illustrations are both beautiful and descriptive; both entertaining and inspiring.

China, a very rapid developing country in the 21st century, attracts the world's attention on it's economic growth. With it's Beijing Olympic 2008 successfully held and a great impression has left to the world, China is getting more well-known and international. Just 2 years after, another mega event, Expo 2010 will be held in Shanghai. World Expo 2010 Shanghai China with the main theme "Better City, Better Life," will contribute to human-centered development, scientific and technological innovation, cultural diversity and win-win cooperation for a better future. There is no doubt that the mega-event is a key factor which will push ahead with the tourism development in Shanghai. So what are the possible impacts and the long-term benefits of Expo 2010 to Shanghai's tourism development? What are the opportunities and challenges to symbolize the future tourism potential? For those who are interested in Expo 2010 and its possible impacts on Shanghai tourism development, you can't miss the chance to read this book!